Getting over heteronormality- The double standards and bias of the 21st century society.
Heteronormality is still a popular belief in today’s society and this idea is based on the attitude that heterosexuality is the only normal and natural expression of sexuality (merriam-webster). The social pundits of today argue that heterosexuality is ancient tracing its origins to the lust of Adam and Eve and any opposition to this idea is met with debates of common sense conjecture. However, contrary to this idea, heterosexuality is not ancient at all. It is a modern invention dating to the late nineteenth and early twentieth century (Katz, 2007) but still up until the last decade homosexuals have been at the receiving end of socio-economic discrimination. So what changed in the last decade and have we as a society really debunked the theory of heteronormality?
Through this paper, I intend to demonstrate the double standards alive in our society today towards homosexuality and gay rights and how, even though we as a nation may have legally accepted homosexuality, heteronormality is still very much rooted in our social institutions and an implicit bias is still exists against homosexuals in modern day America.
Let’s connect our topic to mainstream TV.
“Gay Witch Hunt,” The Office (S3:E1)
The plot of this episode follows the boss, Michael Scott, attempting to hold a disastrous seminar on homosexuality after offending one of his closeted gay employee, Oscar Martinez, by calling him “faggy” and upon discovering his sexuality, he outs him to the office. During the seminar, Michael attempts to educate everyone in the office about the homosexual way of life. When the Oscar threatens to quit, Michael attempts to reconcile with Oscar, first by hugging him and then French kissing him. Oscar is later given a three month paid vacation and a company car to avoid a lawsuit against the company.
This episode is an outstanding example of the double standards that exist in our society towards homosexuality. The word fag is used as a slang which is supposed to mean lame or stupid on the street but literally translates to a denouncing term used for gay people which is why it is offensive. People like Michael know exactly why the word is wrong to use and will make sure not to use it in front of homosexuals. But the same people, when among other heterosexuals, will throw the word around with no concern. By doing this they exhibit an implicit bias towards the use of an offensive word. This can be compared with the word ‘retard.’ Even though the word is offensive to mentally challenged people it is used all the time as an insult in all kinds of social circles.
“Gallavich!,” Shameless (S10:E12)
The season finale of the latest season of Shameless has wedding bells ringing for Ian Gallagher and Micky Milkovich! This well-crafted episode is a fantastic wrap to another successful season of one of my favorite shows Shameless. The episode follows Ian and Micky, an openly gay couple in 2020, in the south side of Chicago, on their wedding day. Although the Gallagher family is in full spirits to celebrate this union, the Milkovich dad and brothers are furious and the dad has warned his son that he would actually kill him if he gets married to another man. On the day of the wedding Micky’s dad burns the original venue forcing the Gallaghers to scheme their way into a polish bar owned by a homophobic woman. In the end love wins and the couple is able to get married despite Micky’s dad showing up to the wedding with guns and the homophobe bar owner finding out that the couple getting married is actually gay.
The message relayed by this episode, and the season in general, is the brutal reality of the ongoing fight for normalizing homosexuality in an America that has already deemed it legal to live the gay way of life. The irony of the situation is frightening with no end in sight for equality and justice. Decades of struggle and protests by the LGTQIA+ community did force the government to recognize gay rights but how do you change an entire countries mindset that has and continues to oppress a group because of their sexuality? The diverse nature of people who were homophobes and those who supported the marriage in this episode shows how there is not one group, belief, race, reason or propaganda that follows heteronormality. In fact, heteronormality is a societal construct passed down from generation to generation through our social institutions and justice and equality won’t be achieved by changing people but instead reforming our institutions from the ground up.
Connection to My Life Experiences
I won’t pretend to be relate to the struggle faced by the LGBTQIA+ community because I can’t. I am a straight man and I could never know the extent of discrimination faced by this community but what I do know, and believe in, is that all people deserve to be treated equally irrespective of their sexuality. We are all human beings and the American values of freedom and justice must apply to all human beings with no exceptions. But that’s not the case in 2020 and I don’t see a big change in the near future because if we keep producing institutions that garner young minds to challenge people simply because of their sexual preference then we as a society have failed this community and ourselves and I won’t be part of the silent majority.
Conclusion: New & Transformative Insights I Have Gained
In my opinion, Julia Carney’s poem in which she says “Little drops of water
Little grains of sand, Make the mighty ocean, And the pleasant land” is a way of life. I have been fortunate to know and see this truth and even though I can’t directly relate to their suffering, I preach this truth and try to foster change in the social institutions that I am a part of such as my family, school and fraternity by establishing a dialogue that can change one mindset a time. As for our society, I strongly believe can only be changed if we break the cycle of passing down bad values to the younger generations. Our schools and colleges need to reinforce the meaning of equality without social bounds so our young brothers and sisters can build a society that is a model for justice and a proof of our advancement as a society.
Works Cited
Heteronormative- definition. (n.d.). Retrieved November 09, 2020, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heteronormative
Katz, J. N. (2007). The invention of heterosexuality. In The invention of heterosexuality: With a new preface. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.
